Catchings, Bevilaqua Named To WNBA’s 2006 All-Defensive Team

Tamika Catchings, left, and Tully Bevilaqua pride themselves on being two of the top defensive players in the WNBA.Frank McGrath/PSE Photo

New York – Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, led the voting for the 2006 WNBA All-Defensive Teams announced by the WNBA today.

Catchings, a second-time First Team honoree, received 25 out of a possible 28 points, while Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie followed closely behind with 23 points. Leslie makes her first appearance on the First Team after occupying a spot on the Second Team last year.

Rounding out the First Team for the second consecutive year are Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes (19 points), Connecticut Sun guard Katie Douglas (17 points) and Indiana Fever guard Tully Bevilaqua (17 points).

Swoopes was named the league’s top defender in 2000, 2002 and 2003, while Leslie took home the honor in 2004.

The second annual WNBA All-Defensive Team was voted on by a panel of the WNBA’s 14 head coaches, who selected First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.

Below are the results for the 2006 WNBA All-Defensive Teams:

2006 WNBA All-Defensive First Team

Player

Team

Position

Points

Tamika Catchings

Indiana Fever

Forward

25

Lisa Leslie

Los Angeles Sparks

Center

23

Sheryl Swoops

Houston Comets

Forward

19

Katie Douglas

Connecticut Sun

Guard

17

Tully Bevilaqua

Indiana Fever

Guard

17

2006 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team

Player

Team

Position

Points

Alana Beard

Washington Mystics

Guard

15

Margo Dydek

Connecticut Sun

Center

11

Deanna Nolan

Detroit Shock

Guard

10

Cheryl Ford

Detroit Shock

Forward

10

Yolanda Griffith

Sacramento Monarchs

Forward

8

Featuring 14 teams and the greatest female basketball players from around the world, the WNBA is the longest-running and most successful women’s professional team sports league in U.S. history. The 2006 WNBA Playoffs tip off on August 17 and complete coverage will be provided by ABC, ESPN2 and NBA TV through the conference finals. The 2006 WNBA Finals will be televised on ESPN2. For more information, please visit WNBA.com.